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LOCAL NEWS

School Board Turns Down Naloxone Policy Study

NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. by: John Gerow (RVO) – For the second time in 3 months, the Redbank Valley School Board has voted down a motion to have the District’s Administration investigate the development of a Naloxone on premise policy for Redbank Valley Schools. At the December Board meeting, Director Carrie Adams, who is a nurse, expressed her concern that the potential complications that can happen as the patient reacts to the Naloxone are more than most medically untrained people can deal with. At that same meeting Director Jason Barnett said that he thinks that there are too many policies now and making more policies is not always a good thing. Mr. Barnett said that the District should focus on teaching kids rather than trying to provide all things to all students. The motion to investigate the development of the Narcan on premises policy was defeated on a tie vote.

Prior to the Naloxone vote, High School Principal Amy Rupp reported to the Board that several Redbank Valley students had done well at the recent Skills USA competition for vocational education students. Criminal Justice student Jason Smith won a silver medal, Taylor King won a bronze in the Crime Scene competition, and Tori Sayre won a gold for modeling for another student.

High School biology teacher Leslie Lightner reported on taking the Anatomy & Physiology students to the Lake Eire College of Osteopathic Medicine cadaver lab. The students observed at 8 different stations in the lab and were encouraged to inter-act with the medical students and the cadavers. Ms. Lightner said that only a couple students were unable to complete the tour, but that all of the students thought it was a worthwhile experience. She said that she hopes to expand these sorts of experiences for the students.

Mrs. Cheryl McCauley, Primary and Intermediate School Principal, reported that gathering names for the 2019-2020 Kindergarten class is underway. She said that the staff has identified more than 40 potential kindergartners for next year. There will be a kindergarten parent meeting on March 5 and kindergarten registration will be March 19 ・March 25. Mrs. McCauley also reported that the recent Spelling Bee was a great success. The first grade spellers went all the way into 4th grade words in their round and the 5th grade students also had an incredibly long round. The recent Family Night at the Intermediate School was also successful. Mrs. McCauley told the Board that the cafeteria was full of students and parents.

Mrs. McCauley brought forward Tina Moore as the Primary School Teacher of the Month. She said that Ms. Moore is innovative and hard working. Ms. Moore was able to secure a $700 science grant that she intends to use on STEM robotics. Librarian Jill Boyles is February’s Teacher of the Month at the Intermediate School.

High School Principal Amy Rupp told the Board that plans are underway for the second annual Snowball Dance for the 8th graders. Mrs. Rupp named 8th & 10th Grade English teacher Jessica Abraham as the High School Teacher of the Month.

District Maintenance Supervisor John Sayers reported that his crew had replaced a gearbox in one set of bleachers in the new gym. He said that the bleachers would not open nor close properly until the gearbox was replaced. Mr. Sayers also reported that there have been significant mechanical issues with the heating system in the high school. He said that the maintenance crew continues to monitor and make repairs as needed.

Superintendent Dr. John Mastillo informed the Board that there would be a special Board meeting on February 20 to formally adopt the preliminary proposed budget that was earlier approved by the Board at a previous special meeting. The February 20 meeting has been called to fulfill certain timeline constraints set forth by the state department of education.

In other matters, the Board approved sending Business Manager Cheryl Motter to the PASBO Conference in Hershey on March 5 – 8, 2019. The Board also approved sending Jill Boyles, Laura Heasley and students to the Greater Pittsburgh Regional Competition at Grove City College on March 1 ・2 and to attend the FIRST Robotics Competition on March 20 – 23 at California University of PA. The Directors also accepted the resignation of cafeteria aide Erika Anthony. Tessa Shick was hired as Assistant Jr High Volleyball coach for a cost of $2,607.21. The Board also approved hiring Barbara Sayers as a greenhouse aide for 390 hours for a cost of $4,022.05.

The community is invited to “Coffee & Conversation with the Superintendant” on February 19 at the Redbank Valley Community Center. There will be two sessions to accommodate people’s working hours. The morning session will be from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m., and the evening session will be from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

 

 

ABOUT:
Redbank Valley School District provides education services for the 165 square mile area of New Bethlehem and Hawthorn boroughs, and the townships of Mahoning, Madison, Porter, and Redbank of both Clarion and Armstrong counties.

MEETINGS:
The Redbank Valley School Board meetings the first Monday of every month at 7pm at the High School Library.

CONTACT:
For more information about the Redbank Valley School District, please call 814.275.2426 or visit RedbankValley.org/pg/biz/redbank-valley-school-district

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